14 Jun 2023We went oh so close to a dream result on the Hillside course at Sandown where Passione beat Versilia by the narrowest of margins.
Our daughter of Proisir weaved between runners late to snatch a nose decision off Versilia, who is trained for us by Danny O’Brien, at the end of the 1400 metre contest.
“Obviously, both mares ran super for Cambridge Stud and I was pleased to get the result for them,” Passione’s trainer Nigel Blackiston said.
A last-start third at Pakenham, Passione settled three back on the fence and wound up powerfully in the closing 200 metres under rider Brad Rawiller.
“It opened up nicely and she got the job done well. She certainly appreciated the ground and she’s in a good mindset,” Blackiston said.
The five-year-old has now won three races and finished third in the G3 Desert Gold Stakes during her time at Awapuni with Lisa Latta.
We purchased Passione, who is a half-sister to multiple Group winner and New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu, out of Lansdowne Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for $100,000.
Bred by Craig Grammer and the Robinson Family Trust, Passione is a daughter of the unraced More Than Ready mare Pristino, a half-sister to the G2 Queen of the South Stakes winner So Pristine.